Kanzel

Kanzel is the German term for a pulpit, the elevated platform in a church from which a sermon is delivered. In church architecture, the Kanzel is typically a freestanding structure or a projection from the body of the nave, often with a canopy or sounding board and a small reading desk. The design varies by period and region, ranging from simple wooden platforms to richly decorated stone and wood canopies. In many Catholic and Protestant churches the Kanzel is distinct from the lectern and altar, emphasizing the preacher's role in the liturgy. A common related form is the Kanzelkorb, a decorative canopy that helps project and audibly reinforce the voice.

In some churches the Kanzel is integrated with the altarpiece in a Kanzelaltar, a fusion of pulpit and altar that was especially popular in Baroque and Rococo interiors. The position of the Kanzel, often on the gospel side of the chancel, reflects liturgical and architectural norms of different traditions.

Beyond architecture, Kanzel can appear as a surname or placename in German-speaking areas, though such uses are rare. The modern English equivalents are pulpit or preaching platform; a Kanzel is typically more ornate and elevated than a simple lectern.

See also Predigtkanzel and Kanzelaltar for related concepts.